1.   And the current legislature is set to leave office Saturday meaning that Aristide will have no other government branch to serve as a counterbalance to his power.

2.   Newspapers have prominently featured the leaders of the three government branches meeting to discuss corruption.

3.   Throughout the country, Brazilians reported to elementary schools, government bank branches and post offices, which for the day were converted into polling precincts.

4.   Nogueras and Torres face charges of violating a prohibition against former U.S. government executive branch employees representing clients in cases they had been involved in before leaving government.

5.   The president has come under fire recently for allegedly attacking media freedom and interfering with the work of other government branches.

6.   The report also criticized an excessive reliance on banks for unearthing financial improprieties, and a lack of effective cooperation between different government branches.

7.   With the Patriotic Pole controlling so much of the assembly, he said, there was no longer any need to dissolve government branches.

8.   The bureau is under the national security council, which comprises heads of government branches and serves as an advisory unit for the president.

9.   The consensus was reached by delegates from major political parties, government branches and academics in the week-long meeting which closed Saturday.